Our children are our greatest treasure. They light up our lives and bring hope for the future. When it comes to their education, especially in the important formative years, the importance of the providers and teachers surrounding them is paramount. May 8th is National Provider Appreciation Day and the perfect time to celebrate the caregivers we entrust our children to all year long.
The team at Early Learning Coalition of Pasco & Hernando (ELCPH) understands just how valuable our providers and early childhood educators are to the community. “We want to make a point of honoring our preschool teachers for all they do for children and families throughout the year,” explained Dr. Steve Knobl, Executive Director of Early Learning Coalition of Pasco & Hernando.
ELCPH was established to create a supportive community for children to be successful in school and life. ELCPH supports children and early education providers through their management of the Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) program, a free educational program funded by the state to prepare 4-year-olds for kindergarten. ELC oversees more than 325 provider programs, ensuring they have the skills and resources to prepare children for school and focus on early literacy, executive function, and social and emotional skills. “We serve roughly 6000 kids in the two counties for VPK. Roughly 90% of the child’s brain develops by the time they enter the kindergarten doors. There’s a lot of work to be done, and the first five years are critical for a child’s school readiness,” shared Dr. Knobl.
“Our team also manages the School Readiness (SR) program, which serves more than 3400 children each day across our communities. The subsidy program offers families that qualify a reduced cost for childcare. We serve children from birth to age 12 for both full-time and part-time services. We encourage families to always apply and let our team determine if they qualify,” added Dr. Knobl.
The providers and early childhood educators responsible for that task take their jobs seriously. “We have children who enroll at age one or two, and they’ll stay with us till the end of the VPK school year. We get attached to them. By the time that child is four or five, Learn & Play Preschool’s been with that child for two-thirds of their life. The impact we’ve made is very large,” shared Haris Horozovic, owner and operator of Learn & Play Preschool and Provider Representative on the ELCPH Board of Directors.
At Learn & Play, they focus on showing their commitment and appreciation to their teachers in a number of ways. “We do lunch for the teachers, and everyone feels appreciated,” shared Horozovic. These are hearty comfort foods made by his mother, enjoyed by everyone. But Learn & Play also helps teachers grow in their careers as well, directing them towards programs that help them secure their CDA and associate degree through the TEACH Early Childhood® Scholarship Program. “If you want to work in this field, and if you want to advance yourself, there is a path to doing it,” added Horozovic.
Many wonder how best to show their appreciation to their child’s teacher. For Haris, that answer is simple. “Kindness. Just having a good relationship with your child’s teacher is how we feel appreciated the most.” There are many ways to show support. You can donate to organizations like ELCPH to help fund programs that support local opportunities or volunteer to read in a classroom. Whatever way you choose to honor early childhood teachers, it will be appreciated. For them, it’s not just a job–it’s work of the heart.